Portable bleacher



Nov. 17, 1936. P. w. Hussl-:Y

PORTABLE BLEACHER Filed Aug. 1'?, 1955 5 Sheets-Sheet l Nov. 17, 1936. P. w. HUssEY PORTABLE BLEACHER Filed Aug. 17, 1953 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Nov. 17, 1936. R W HUSSEY 2,061,465

PORTABLE BLEAGHER Filedv Aug. 17, 1935 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Nov. 17, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 3 Claims.

This invention relates to improved portable bleachers and has for its object the production of a simple and efficient structure whereby the bleachers may be readily and conveniently set up, and after being completely assembled will be properly and efficiently braced so as to insure the occupants of the bleachers against injury due to the collapsing of the structure.

Another object of this invention is the production of a simple and efcient structure in the nature of portable bleachers, the parts thereof being capable of being readily knocked-down or disassembled and which, when in this knockeddown position, will occupy a minimum amount of space, thereby greatly facilitating the storage and cartage of the various parts making up the improved portable bleachers.

Another object of this invention is the production of a simple and eicient structure in the nature of portable bleachers, which will possess long life, may be easily set up and taken down, will be safe when set up on soft ground, and wherein the seating boards are firmly anchored in place, the seat boards also constituting an eilicient means for tying the entire structure in an assembled relation.

A further object of this invention is the production of a structure in the nature of portable bleachers wherein a more comfortable spacing of seats may be provided due to the particular structure employed, and which at the same time will be safe as well as comfortable, and also extremely economical due to the durability thereof.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will appear throughout the following specification and claims.

In the drawings:-

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the improved portable bleachers.

Figure 2 is a section taken on line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a top plan View of a portion of the parallel sleepers which are used as the base of the support, showing the manner in which the parallel sleepersare tied in proper spaced relation, this being a section taken on line 3--3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a section taken on line 4-4 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a section taken on line 5-5 of Figure 2.

Figure 6 is a sectionA taken on line 6-6 of Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a section taken on line 1-1 of Figure 6, with the seat boards shown in top plan.

Figure 8 is an enlarged detail of the left end of Figure 3, certain parts being shown in section.

Figure 9 is a section taken on line 9-9 of Figure 8.

Figure 10 is a section taken on line lll- I0 of 5 Figure 9.

Figure 11 is a section taken on line` lI--H of Figure 4.

Figure 12 is an enlarged side elevation of the rear end of one of the stringers and a portion of 10 one of the seat boards and seat board supports also showing the supporting standard for the back rails, the back rails being shown in vertical section;

Figure 13 is a section taken on line l3-l3 of 15 Figure 12.

Figure 14 is a section taken on line Ill-I4 of Figure 4 looking upwardly in the direction of the arrow, the seat boards not being shown.

By referring to the drawings, it will be seen that l designates the front sleeper, 2 the intermediate sleeper, and 3 the rear sleeper. Any desired number or series of these sleepers may be employed end-to-end, and additional sleepers may be provided to suit the desired width of the portable bleachers to be erected. These sleepers l, 2 and 3, are preferably formed of long fiat wooden beams or boards, the ends of which are preferably provided with corrugated metallic inserts 4 for the purpose of preventing the sleepers l, 2 and 3, from cracking, splitting, or becoming otherwise damaged. The front and intermediate sleepers I and 2 are preferably tied together by means of a transversely extending tie rod 5 having a transversely extending T-head 6 welded upon the upper face thereof. This tie rod 5 is firmly secured in position upon sleeper I by means of a substantially U-shaped strap l, through which the tie rod 5 extends, the T-shaped head 6 abutting against the edge of the strap 'l and limiting the longitudinal movement of the tie rod 5 through the strap l. Any suitable number of these tie rods 5 may be employed and may be similarly secured to the sleeper l, depending upon the length of the stand which is to be erected. The rear end of the tie rod 5 is preferably anchored to the intermediate sleeper 2 by means of a vertically extending bolt 8 which may be extended through the sleeper 2, as shown in Figure 4, and secured also to this bolt 8 are the inner ends of the diverging rear tie bars 9, as clearly shown in Figures 3 and 4, the rear ends of these tie bars 9 being secured to the securing bolts I0, which securing bolts l0 also assist in securing the straps ll in position upon the rear sleeper 3. Bolts l2 are also employed for securing these straps II in anchored position upon the sleeper 3, as shown.

By means of the tie bars 5 and 9, and the means for connecting these tie bars to the sleepers I, 2 and 3, it will be seen that a very simple and efficient means has been provided for not only rmly tying these sleepers I, 2 and 3, in proper spaced relation, but a means has also been provided for eliminating the necessity for measuring the distance between the sleepers in that these tie rods or bars 5 and 9 will constitute efficient means for properly spacing the sleepers. In producing the sleepers I, 2 and 3, suitable apertures are prepared in advance for anchoring the respective straps in engagement therewith through the medium of the securing bolts, thereby definitely locating the various securing elements for attaching the tie bars 5 and 9 to the sleepers. Furthermore, by means of this particular structure just described and clearly illustrated in Figures 3, 4 and 8, a very simple means has been provided for efliciently attaching the tie bars to the various sleepers and also for greatly facilitating the assembly as well as the taking apart of the various sections for the purpose of storage, cartage, or shipment.

As shown in Figures 2 and 9, the stringer or seat supporting beam I3 is anchored at its forward end to the strap 1 by means of a tongue I4 which is preferably welded to the under side of the forward end of the beam I3 and fits under the strap 1, as shown, and is firmly secured in engagement with the sleeper I by means of the anchoring pin I5. 'I'his will constitute an eflicient means for firmly anchoring and securing the forward endI of the beam I3. This beam I3 is preferably formed of a steel I-beam structure although other suitable and convenient material may be substituted without departing from the spirit of the invention. The beam I3 is also supported throughout its length at spaced intervals by a plurality of specially constructed horses H, as clearly shown in Figures 2 and 4 of the drawings. These horses H are of suitable size and height to efficiently support the beam I3 at the proper angle to produce an efficient support for the portable bleacher and the base of the beam I3 may be notched as at I3a to receive the horses H. Each horse H comprises a pair of preferably angle-iron legs I6 which are pivotally connected to a connecting link I1, shown in Figure 4, this connecting link I1 being preferably secured to the legs I6 near the upper ends thereof, the legs I6 being provided with projecting stringer gripping jaws I8, as shown in Figure 4, whereby the jaws I8 will firmly grip upon opposite sides of the stringer I3, as shown in Figure 4, and firmly lock the legs I6 in firm engagement with the stringer I3. The legs I6 preferably diverge toward their lower ends and these legs I6 are provided with laterally bent securing feet I9 which extend under the straps I I, as clearly shown in Figure 3. These legs I6 are also braced by means of the pivoted toggle links 20 which are pivotally secured, as at 2I, to the legs IB and are provided with a toggle or break joint 22 at their connecting ends to constitute an efficient toggle break for holding the legs I6 in a proper spaced relation when the horse H is in a set-up position. Securing pins 23 are carried by the legs I6 near their upper ends for tting into the slots 2 4 formed in the ends of the connecting spacing braces 25 which may be secured to the legs I6, as shown in Figure 4 and constitute means for attaching the horse H to a spaced similarly constructed horse arranged in lateral spaced relation thereto. These bracing members or spacing braces 25 will constitute a very eflicient means for bracing the horse H near its upper end against lateral strain. The intermediate horse H is similarly connected to the beam I3 and to the intermediate sleeper 2, as shown in the drawings and as described with respect to Figure 4. The rear horse H is also similarly constructed and consequently the description of one horse structure is thought sufficient since all of the horses are similarly constructed even though they may be made of different sizes to accommodate the various locations which may be found necessary.

As shown in Figure 2, the stringer or beam I3 is arranged on an incline with its rear end elevated and its front end closely anchored in engagement with the front sleeper I. This stringer I3 is braced in its supported position by means of a suitable number of horses H. This stringer I3 carries upon its upper face a plurality of spaced seat supporting brackets 26 for supporting the boards 21, which seat boards 21 may be of any suitable or desired structure, but preferably are formed of a wooden board structure. i

Each seat board supporting bracket. comprises a front vertically extending seat supporting strut 29 and a bridge plate 30, as clearly shown in Figure 6. The bridge plate 30 and supporting-strut 29 are preferably welded as at 3 I, for constituting an supporting strut 29 will constitute a snug abut- Y ment for the seat boards 21. The rear end of the bridge plate 30 is provided with an upwardly bent finger 32 which constitutes a rear abutment for the seat boards 21, which upwardly extending finger 32 in combination with the bridge plate 30 and the upper extremity of the supporting strut 29 constitutes a pocket for supporting the seat boards 21 in a cradle-like manner. The rear end of the bridge plate 30 is preferably welded as indicated at 33, to the upper face of the stringer I3 and the lower end of the strut 29 is preferably welded, as indicated at 34, to the upper face of the stringer I3, thereby providing the very rigid, substantial, and practically integral structure for supporting the seat boards 21. As illustrated in Figure 2 and as previously described, a plurality of these seat supporting brackets 26 may be arranged in proper spaced relation along the upper face of the stringer I3 to provide ample and comfortable seating arrangement upon the. seat boards 21. In order that these boards 21 may bev 21 and supporting the seat board 21 uponthe upper face of the bridge plate 30, as shown. ,Each angle plate 35 is provided at its forwardl end with a projecting lug 36, which projecting lug 36 is provided with a beveled face 31 on one side to provide a substantially wedge-shaped projecting lug or tongue for fitting in the anchoring aperture 38 formed in the vertically extending strut 29 of the seat supporting bracket 26. In actual vpractice, two seat boards 21 are placed upon the bracket 26 so as to have their adjoining ends arranged -seat boards in position against lateral displacement and will also tend to tie the entire structure together in view of the fact that the seat boards will span the distance between one Stringer I3 to the other, or next adjacent stringer to which the opposite end of the seat board 2l may be secured. Within the length of the seat board 12l', and at any suitable or desired location between the anchored ends of the seat board, may be carried a plurality of securing straps 39 which may be secured to the under face of the, seat board 2l for fitting in the upwardly extending struts or brackets 43 carried by an adjacent stringer 4I, the strap 39 being provided with a projecting tongue 42 to i'lt in the square hole 43 yformed in the upper end of the strut 43 and these straps 39 are preferably mounted in the. center of the seat boards 2l, or at an equal distance from each end thereof. This structure will constitute an efficient tying means at the center of the seat board for facilitating the tying of the entire structure together.

Secured to the under face of the stringer I3 are a plurality of foot board supporting hangers 44 which preferably comprise substantially U- shaped hangers, the upper ends of which are `folded over to provide supporting hooks 45,

which hooks are preferably welded to the upper face of the base 46 of the I-beam Stringer I3, one end at one side of the I-beam and the other end at the opposite. side of the I-beam, as shown in Figure 5. These hangers 44 provide suitable supports for the foot boards 41. These foot boards 41 are preferably arranged to overlap, as indicated in Figure 1.

From the foregoing description, it will be seen that a very simple and efficient means has been provided for supporting the foot boards 47, and these hangers 44 are preferably arranged upon the lower face of the Stringer I3 intermediate or between the location of the seat supporting brackets 26 so as to support the foot boards 4l in proper relative location with respect to the seat boards 2l, thereby greatly adding to the comfort of the occupant of the bleacher.

Secured to the upper end of the Stringer I3, as illustrated in detail in Figure 12, is a vertically extending standard 4B carrying rail supporting loops 49 upon the rear face thereof, which loops 49 receive the back rails 50, two of these loops 49 being carried by each standard 48. At the ends of the back rails 4l', the loops are adapted to support the rails in overlap-ping relation as is indicated in Figure 13.

The general arrangement of the various sections going to make up the portable bleachers will be clearly understood by considering Figure 1 wherein a series of stringers I3 are arranged in substantially parallel relation with the intermediate stringers 4| interposed therebetween, which stringers I3 and 4I are of similar construction so as to permit the stringers to be interchanged. The seat supporting brackets 2S are supported by the stringers I3, and the seat supporting brackets are carried by the stringers 4I. The brackets 26 and struts 4E! are similarly constructed. These stringers I3 and 4I are braced and supported in their proper inclined relation, as shown in Figure 2, by means of the y various horses H. By referring to Figure 1 it will also be seen that the back rails 50 may be overlapped at suitable points when desired in the rear of the. vertical standards 48. These back rails 50 may be of any suitable or desired length without departing from the spirit of the invention.

By means of the projecting lugs 3B and the projecting tongues 39 it will be seen that a very eflicient means has been provided for tying the spaced stringers I3 and 4I together along the top of the structure and the spacing braces 25 will also constitute an efficient transverse brace.

By carefully considering the drawings, particularly Figures 1 and 2, it will also be seen that the device preferably comprises a number of structural steel members so designed that as the horses I-I are put in place and the togglejointed braces 20 are snapped into their fixed position, the` upper ends of the horses legs It will grip the web of the I-beam stringers, holding the stringers in solid position. This gripping action takes place just before the toggle brace is swung down to the horizontal position there being enough spring in the legs to allow the toggle jointed brace to be forced down with the operators foot and snapped over center where the toggle joint brace will remain until lifted up for` removal of the horse. By means of this structure. there is provided a gripping effect on the Stringer even though some wear may result from assembly and the taking down of the bleachers. At the same time, this spreading action of the horses legs by depressing the toggle jointed brace inserts the laterally extending -feet I9 into the securing straps I I carried by the sleepers, thereby constituting an eflicient attaching means for connecting the stringers and the sleepers in one simple operation.

Due to the particular structure of the horses H, as illustrated in detail in Figure 4, it will be seen that by folding or swinging the legs I6 toward each other, the horses may be folded so as to accommodate a minimum amount of space to facilitate trucking or storing. It should be understood however, that any suitable or desired type of material may be used in constructing the horses without departing from the spirit of the invention although the type illustrated has been found preferable.

By connecting the laterally spaced horses H by means of the angle bracing members 25, the assembled structure is held in a rigid position to resist both compressive and tension action, the transverse structure being also braced by means of the seat boards which are positively locked to the seat supports carried by the stringers that constitute what is known as a top cord of a truss and the spacing braces 2li acting as the bottom cord. This brace also holds the stringers in proper spaced relation until the seat boards are mounted in place.. Through the medium of the structure illustrated, the sleepers, steel frame, horses, and stringers, as well as the spacing braces may be completely erected, truedup, and secured together with plenty of room for the construction of thebleachers before the seat and foot boards are installed.

The particular type of structure employed for anchoring the sleepers in position is an important feature of the present invention, greatly reducing the amount of lumber ordinarily used for accomplishing the same effect and adding greatly to the ease and simplicity of assembly. In fact, it is only necessary to establish a line on which to locate the front sleeper, then the tie bar between front and middle sleeper is installed establishing the proper spacing between sleepers without any measuring. Then the two diverging tie bars between the middle and rear sleeper accurately locate the rear sleeper at proper distance and square to a line at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the structure. By this arrangement the entire foundation of the structure may be put in place, squared up and leveled up in exact position to receive the horses, stringers, etc., without any further adjusting.

The angle iron end on the seat board previously described and illustrated in Figures 5 and 6, as well as Figure 7, is an important feature in that it has a triple function; first, it keeps the seat boards from splitting; second, it holds the seat boards in place with the assistance of the strap 39; and third, this structure assists in tying al1 of the steel stringers together throughout the entire length of the structure acting as a top cord of the truss and preventing wear of the wood at the bearing points. This structure also permits the seat boards to be connected without the necessity of overlapping at their bearing points. The foot boards 4l may be overlapped at every other Stringer, if desired, as shown in Figure 1. In connection with Figures 5 and '7, it should be understood that the lug 3B in each instance may be either straight or wedge-shaped without departing from the spirit of the invention, although it has been found preferable to provide these wedge-shaped lugs to insure a tight i'lt.

It should be understood that changes in the detail construction, combination or arrangement of parts may be employed without departing from the spirit of the invention, so long as these changes fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Having described the claimed as new iszinvention, what is 1. A structure of the class described comprising a plurality of substantially parallel sleepers, securing straps carried by said sleepers, means for anchoring said sleepers in substantial parallel spaced relation, said means comprising a forward tie rod having means at its opposite ends for detachably securing the forward tie rod in engagement with two spaced sleepers, diverging tie rods pivotally mounted at their converging ends to one end of said rst mentioned tie rod and being secured at their opposite ends in spaced diverging relation to an additional spaced sleeper.

2. A structure of the class described comprising a plurality of sleepers arranged in substantially parallel spaced relation, means for holding said sleepers in anchored definite spaced relation, said means comprising tie rods connecting said sleepers together, a strap carried by one sleeper, one of said rods having an end portion engaged through said strap and carrying a T-shaped head fitting behind said strap for detachably holding said tie rod in engagement with said strap and preventing sliding of the tie rod out of the strap in one direction.

3. A structure of the class described comprising a base, said base embodying a plurality of sleepers, a strap member carried by one sleeper, tie means connecting said sleepers in substantially parallel spaced relation, said tie means comprising a forward tie rod having its front end extending through said strap member and carrying a laterally extending T-shaped head, a stringer arranged on an incline with respect to the forward tie rod and transversely of said sleepers, a projecting tongue carried by the forward end of said stringer and iitting under said strap member upon the forward sleeper and abutting the T-shaped head for resisting the forward sliding movement of said tongue under said strap member, and an anchoring pin passing through the strap member and tongue and tie rod and into the sleeper, and being anchored in the sleeper supporting said strap member.

PHILIP W. HUSSEY. 

